Commonwealth, what Commonwealth? These 1649 Exchequer depositions have been "backdated" to the regnal year 1 Chas 2, ignoring the decade of interregnum. They've also named the King as complainant, which would've been difficult for the future Charles II to do in exile in 1649. TNA E 133/145/72

Hypnotic. The parliament roll for 3 Jas I (1605/1606), which includes the acts passed in response to the Gunpowder Plot [C 65/182]

Just four zebras hanging out. Definitely no cars here.

Swearing's not cool, kids. Unless you're publishing it in an academic article. Then it's very cool.

What better way to commemorate treason than with the Guy Fawkes Galop (1868) TNA YCAT/9/1

If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to, why don't you go where Harlem flits? Puttin' on the Writs. TNA C 256/2/4

The Treason records of Anne Boleyn and the Gunpowder Plotters, together at last for Archives Fest 2026 at The National Archives.

Historian in action* *gesturing so much that the camera blurs the image

Never change, Leeds IMC #IMC2026 @imc-leeds.bsky.social

I put a suit on, I showed off some documents. A good day.

There was a steady increase in the amount of money fined per year. The spikes include the £15,000 fined to the Earl of Hertford for marrying Katherine Grey in 1563, and those fined for their indirect involvement in the Gunpowder Plot in 1606. [3/3]

Some early findings from the 5242 entries. London as expected was the most common county, though Gloucestershire was second. Nearly a fifth of all named persons were described as yeomen. Less than 5% were women, only about 250 out of over 5000. [2/3]

I had a blast at this year's British Legal History Conference at the University of Nottingham, where I was talking about my early findings from surveying the whole of the Star Chamber estreats of fines in TNA E 159. [1/3]

Completely historically accurate representation of Guy Fawkes being dragged before James I. You can tell he was caught late at night/early in the morning because James is still in his nightcap. Completely accurate. TNA COPY 1/19/175

I'm really excited to be hosting the Murder in the Archives! session at this year's British Crime Historians Symposium at Oxford Brookes in September. Featuring m'learned colleagues @krmaude.bsky.social, @jessamycarlson.bsky.social, and Charlotte Smith. sites.google.com/brookes.ac.u...

Cheeky little mention of Magna Carta in the commission to prosecute Edmund Dudley in 1509/10. Lovely stuff. TNA KB 8/4

Lovely coat of arms on this King's Bench plea roll from the beginning of Henry VIII's reign. Before Henry started chucking his portrait all over them. TNA KB 27/995

Did you know that in the 19th Century the President of the United States of America was the named complainant in a (UK) Chancery case? A representative of the President appeared in Chancery to secure the bequest of James Smithson, to establish the Smithsonian Institution. TNA TS 11/623/2012

Goslings by Gosling (2026), at The National Archives (UK)

Yes, the detail on this 16th Century map is incredible, but honestly I noticed that the woods look like the profile of a person trying to balance a biscuit on their nose, and now that's all I see. TNA MPC 1/263 discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3...

You can tell this Chancery roll (C 78, enrolled decrees) isn't used very often, because look how clear the writing is! [TNA C 78/125]

As such, this warrant orders that Jenkin's body be removed from Durdham Down and either gibbeted elsewhere or "delivered to some surgeon to be anatomised" [5/5]

It would particularly affect the business of the widow woman that let out her apartments to "persons of decent repute" from Bristol during the summer. [4/5]

The merchants noted that Durdham Down wasn't that large, and that Jenkin's body would be of "great disgust" to those visiting, especially to "the invalids". [3/5]

The problem, said the merchants, was that Jenkin's body was gibbeted on Durdham Down, a place where "great numbers of persons do annually resort" for the "salubrity of the air" [2/5]

In 1783, a group of Bristol merchants petitioned the king following the hanging of Jenkin Prothero. (Fair warning, this story contains some light gibbeting) E 389/247 [1/5]

I'm obsessed with this 18th Century signature. Look at it. Ridiculous. (I'm still not 100% sure, but I think it says Sam Wilding)

It's not much to look at, but this 1618 Star Chamber decree is pretty noteworthy, because James I was sitting as a judge in the court, in direct judgment over his subjects. STAC 8/196/25

Not long now until the 2026 British Legal History Conference at the University of Nottingham. I'll be there speaking about estreats of fines for the Court of Star Chamber, a great resource that helps us piece together Star Chamber process.

Struggling in the heat? Visit an archive. Sweet sweet temperature control for the sake of the documents. Also, they have cool documents.